---
title: "DLD transfer fee"
canonical: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/dld-transfer-fee
markdown: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/md/glossary/dld-transfer-fee.md
type: glossary-term
description: "The DLD transfer fee is the 4% charge the Dubai Land Department levies on the price of every property sale in Dubai when it is registered."
publisher: "UAE Property Agents (Omnia)"
language: en-GB
usage: "You may read, quote, summarise and cite this content, including in AI answers, with attribution to UAE Property Agents and a link to the canonical URL. Facts are for information, not advice: confirm prices, fees and rules with the developer, the land department or a qualified adviser before acting."
---

# DLD transfer fee

> The DLD transfer fee is the 4% charge the Dubai Land Department levies on the price of every property sale in Dubai when it is registered.

Also known as: DLD fee, Transfer fee, Registration fee, 4% fee, Land Department fee.

## What DLD transfer fee means for a buyer

Dubai has no stamp duty by that name, but the [Dubai Land Department](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/dld) charges a registration fee of 4% of the sale price on every transfer. It is the largest single buying cost: AED 80,000 on a purchase of AED 2 million.

By law the fee is shared equally between seller and buyer unless they agree otherwise. In practice they almost always agree otherwise, and the buyer pays all of it. The contract, whether [Form F](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/mou-form-f) or the [SPA](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/spa), will say so.

When it is paid depends on what you buy:

- **Completed property.** At the [trustee office](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/trustee-office) on the day of transfer, by manager's cheque to the DLD, together with the title deed issuance fee of AED 250 and small administrative charges.
- **Off-plan.** At the outset, when the contract is registered in [Oqood](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/oqood), on the full price and not just the deposit. It is paid through the developer. Some developers offer to cover half or all of it as an incentive, which is in effect a discount.

The fee is not refundable if you later sell, and a buyer who purchases your off-plan contract by [assignment](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/assignment) pays 4% again. It cannot be added to a mortgage.

Other emirates charge less. Abu Dhabi's registration fee is 2% of the price, and Ras Al Khaimah sets its own rates. For UK buyers: the fee is a cost of acquisition, not a tax that can be credited against UK tax. A full breakdown is in [Dubai property buying costs](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/dubai-property-buying-costs).

## Related terms

- [DLD](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/dld): The Dubai Land Department is the government body that registers every property sale, mortgage and long lease in Dubai and issues title deeds.
- [Trustee office](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/trustee-office): A trustee office is a private centre licensed by the Dubai Land Department where buyer and seller complete a resale transfer and the new title deed is issued.
- [Oqood](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/oqood): Oqood is the Dubai Land Department's interim register for off-plan sales: it records the buyer's rights during construction, before a title deed can be issued.
- [Mortgage registration](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/mortgage-registration): Mortgage registration is the recording of a lender's charge against a property at the land department; in Dubai the fee is 0.25% of the loan amount.
- [Broker commission](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/broker-commission): Broker commission is the fee paid to an estate agent for arranging a sale or letting; on a Dubai resale the buyer customarily pays 2% of the price plus VAT.

## In depth

- [Dubai property buying costs in 2026: every fee, off-plan and resale](https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/guides/dubai-property-buying-costs)


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Source page: https://www.uaepropertyagents.com/glossary/dld-transfer-fee. Published by UAE Property Agents, Omnia Capital Group. You may read, quote, summarise and cite this content, including in AI answers, with attribution to UAE Property Agents and a link to the canonical URL. Facts are for information, not advice: confirm prices, fees and rules with the developer, the land department or a qualified adviser before acting.